Rohtak RTA tightens noose around polluting vehicles
The Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Rohtak, has tightened the noose around the owners/operators of vehicles causing excessive air pollution.
As many as 770 vehicles have been challaned and a fine of Rs 88.67 lakh has been imposed on their owners between October 23 and December 11.
"Of these, 374 vehicles have been challaned for not having PUC certificates, 273 for not having HSRPs and 123 vehicles have been challaned/impounded for being used after they have 'outlived' their utility (15 years for petrol vehicles and 10 years for diesel vehicles) during the said period," said Major (retd) Gayatri Ahlawat, RTA Secretary-cum-District Transport Officer (DTO), Rohtak.
The vehicles have been challaned/impounded for the non-possession of pollution-under-control (PUC) certificate, non-installation of high-security number plates (HSRPs) and colour-code stickers and use of end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, she said.
In a recent communique shot off to all DTOs-cum-RTA secretaries of the state, the Haryana Transport Commissioner has pointed out that the Supreme Court as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have prohibited the operation of all the diesel/petrol vehicles having age of more than 10/15 years respectively in the national capital region (NCR) across the country.
Further, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued repeated instructions to combat the pollution by handling end-of-life (EOL) vehicles as well as strict checking of the visibly polluting vehicles and pollution-checking centres functional in the NCR, it points out.
"In view of the above, you are directed to take immediate necessary action with regard to checking of PUC centres functional in your respective jurisdictions and visibly polluting vehicles/end of life vehicles. The information regarding the action taken must be shared with this office on a daily basis for the appraisal of the government," the communique maintains.
The Rohtak DTO stated that a special drive had been launched in compliance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) norms as well as the aforesaid directions received from the state authorities.
